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2008 Industry Outlook
Research & Biotechnology 2008
Riding the momentum: The biotech industry is honing in on seed and early-stage venture capital and workforce development.
Florida’s Biotech Companies |
|
| Region | Companies |
| Southeast | 46 |
| North Central | 37 |
| Tampa Bay | 30 |
| East Central | 14 |
| Northwest | 3 |
| Northeast | 3 |
| Southwest | 1 |
| South Central | 0 |
| Source: Florida BioDatabase, Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator, University of Florida | |
| Sector | Percentage |
| Theraputics | 38% |
| Diagnostics | 18 |
| Other | 17 |
| Biological Disease | 10 |
Delivery |
9 |
| Environmental | 8 |
| Source: Florida BioDatabase, Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator, University of Florida | |
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The Trends
Awarding of $100 million in third-round funding for Centers of Excellence at Florida universities — with 50 applications being considered from 15 institutions in various combinations
13-office expansion of the 12-year-old Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator in Alachua
Upswing in nanotechnology and nanomedical research at Florida universities, including the University of Florida, where a new Nanoscale Research Facility will open this year, Florida International University, the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and Florida State University
Launch of the Florida Opportunity Fund, which will invest $29.5 million in VC companies
Going Green
Between University of Florida professor Lonnie Ingram’s work on cellulosic ethanol and Dr. Jim Fenton’s work at the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center, the state is well-positioned to become a leader in clean energy research, says David L. Day, director of technology licensing at the University of Florida. In 2006, the state gave UF a $4.5-million Florida Center of Excellence award to create an Energy Technology Incubator at the school’s Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy. Separately, the Florida Legislature awarded UF $20 million for a biofuels pilot plant, which will use biomass waste such as switchgrass and wood chips. The Florida Solar Energy Center receives $8 million to $12 million annually in contracts and grants for hydrogen, photovoltaic, solar thermal and other energy research. A consortium made up of Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida and the University of South Florida and, separately, the Florida Institute of Technology have submitted requests for funding for clean energy Centers of Excellence.
